At the beginning of June, I tossed a devilish grin in fate's direction and made a checklist of fun summer activities- concerts, parades, day trips, daring feats of athleticism, you get the picture- that I planned to do this season. It was long. And illustrated. I stuck it to my fridge where it gave me a little thrill of excitement each time I made a sandwich or reached into the freezer for the ice cube tray. So much to look forward to! This was going to be The.Best.Summer. I could feel it! Not the kind followed by a September full of regret over all the things we didn't quite get around to, but swear to do next year. I mean the kind that by late August has left you exhausted, suntanned, sandy, lazy. You feel fitter and healthier, but don't really remember any grueling workouts- just hot sunny days spent swimming, walking, playing tennis (badly if you're me), boating, or bicycling. Meals are lighter and pay homage to whatever fruits and vegetables are in season- bruschetta with basil and tomatoes from the garden, honey and apricot crostini, salads with fresh mint and parsley picked from right outside the kitchen door. Walking into town for ice cream cones becomes a nightly ritual, as does strolling through the farmers market on Friday mornings to survey the fresh flowers and new produce. See what I mean? So much to do!

Of course, I promptly succumbed to a knee injury and spent the first half of the summer on the sofa, ice pack and little dog at my side, watching old movies and Dawson's Creek (yep) reruns, and looking at wallpaper on Pinterest and pictures of Kate Middleton's hair. Instead of complaining that my bathing suit and favorite beach towel are still damp from yesterday, or that I just can't seem to get all the sand out of my espadrilles, I'm bombarding anyone who will listen with commentary about Why would Joey love Dawson? And why would Dawson choose Jen over Joey? And what late night communication breakdown in the Writer's Room resulted in the creation of Andie McPhee? I've begun to relish overcast mornings (perfect for Charade and Breakfast at Tiffany's), and stormy nights- which come with the added bonus of alleviating my guilt/anxiety over not (ever) watering the garden. Ever. No, EVER. Annoyingly though, not every day can be dark and grey and rainy, and I've been forced to develop a backup plan for dealing with those stubborn perfect breezy sunshiny afternoons. Ugh.

So, without further ado, low-impact activities that will take you from June to August, minimal walking required. (Sometimes, even leaving the car is optional!)

• Movies (Not necessarily the first thing that comes to mind when I'm free associating about summer either, but if you figure in air conditioning on 95 degree days and the fact that it's the season of the big budget blockbuster, I think we can work with it. Also, beggars can't be choosers.)
• Drive-in movies
• To-go-window ice cream cones
• Fireworks!
• Cooking (Or rather, assembling, as I prefer to call it in the summer- salads, cold sandwiches, guacamole, s'mores, etc.)
• Sipping iced tea under umbrellas on patios (See photo, above. Pretty, right? You almost don't even mind not walking..)
• Boat rides
• Concerts on the lawn
• Minor league baseball games (Do you think I can press against the crowds to get a hot dog at Yankee Stadium? I cannot.)
• Friday evening cocktail hour
• Tuesday afternoon cocktail hour
• Reading everything published on the internet pertaining to arthroscopic knee surgery (Admittedly, probably only appealing to me.)
• Lounging poolside
• Calling in favors
• Game night

Finding oneself unexpectedly immobile during a season when even the most willfully indolent feel compelled to slather on sunscreen and step out for some fresh air is a bit of a drag. But I think I've managed to salvage just enough of the "The List" to round Labor Day with a well earned sense of accomplishment. And if all the activity proves tiresome, the kids from the Creek are always waiting- at least until Season 6 when Dawson becomes a famous Hollywood producer and Jen dies (!!!). Even then, I should be ok until the internet runs out of pics of Kate's glossy locks. Which I predict will be never.



Honey Apricot Crostini

Baguette
Ricotta cheese
Apricots (I used plumcots today, the plum + apricot hybrid)
Honey, for drizzling

Cut baguette into small rounds, brush with olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt, if desired. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown. Let cool. Top with a healthy dollop of ricotta and one or two apricot slices. Drizzle with honey. Enjoy as hors d'oeuvres or use to accompany a salad. Or eat way too many while you prep them and just call it dinner.